Will County Board seeks input on $133 Million Covid Relief Fund allocation

JOLIET – The Will County Board is seeking input from residents, business owners, and non-profits on how to spend $133 million in federal pandemic relief funds. The money was distributed as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed by Congress earlier this year.

“We want to know what the people that live and work in Will County need in their communities due to the pandemic,” said Speaker of the Will County Board Mimi Cowan (Naperville). “This short survey will help the County Board direct funds to where they are most needed.”

Unlike the CARES Act of 2020 when Will County was responsible for distributing money to local municipalities and other groups, the ARPA provides direct funds to larger cities and villages separate of the county. Communities like Joliet, Bolingbrook, and Naperville, for example were given direct allocations of $22.2 million, $9.1 million, and $13.3 million respectively under the ARPA.

“Providing local municipalities with a direct allocation of ARPA dollars streamlines the process,” said County Board Minority Leader Mike Fricilone (Homer Glen). “Previously, the Board received CARES allocations, and distributed funds to local municipalities and others. With the larger municipalities receiving their own direct allotments of ARPA funds from the Federal government, Will County can focus our County funding to other residents, businesses and groups that are in need of assistance.”

“The County Board hopes to start advancing some allocations of the ARPA funding in the next month or two,” said Board Majority Leader Meta Mueller (Aurora). “We still are looking for good ideas and suggestions for the needs of communities across Will County. Please participate in the Board’s survey.”

Residents, business owners, and non-profit organizations can find the survey on the County Board website at www.WillCountyBoard.com or on the Board’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/willcounty, or by clicking www.surveymonkey.com/r/NFXXJZQ

The federal guidelines for the ARPA funding stipulates that all of the funds must be obligated by December 2024 and all funds fully expended by December 2026. This timeframe gives the County time to fully review proposals and expend the funds over several years.